A federal court in the United States has halted nationwide the implementation of new rules on mail-in voting ahead of the midterm elections in November. The ruling prevents the United States Postal Service from enforcing stricter requirements set out in an executive order.
U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani of Massachusetts barred the implementation of the controversial regulations in a new preliminary injunction issued Tuesday. The lawsuit was filed by the League of Women Voters of Massachusetts and other plaintiffs.
Trump's executive order
Donald Trump signed Executive Order 14399 on March 31, titled “Requiring Documentary Proof of Citizenship and Ensuring the Integrity of Federal Elections.” The order called for new conditions for mail-in and absentee ballots.
Under the rules, ballots that did not meet the specified conditions or could not be linked to people on voter lists submitted to the United States Postal Service were also not to be sent.
Scope of injunction expanded
Talwani had already blocked key provisions of the executive order from being implemented in 23 states and Washington, D.C., in June. The new ruling expands the scope of that preliminary injunction to cover the entire country.
The U.S. Supreme Court is considering the Trump administration's applications to lift the earlier injunction related to the same executive order. The legal process is continuing as the November midterm elections approach, when control of the House of Representatives and the Senate will be determined.